In
the average electrically-heated American home, the water heater is the
second largest user of electricity-- about 20% of total energy use.
It's the largest user of electricity in homes with non-electric heat.
Wash
only full loads in the dishwasher. If you need a particular dish that
happens to be dirty, don't run a half-full dishwasher to clean it, just
wash it by hand.
Wash
clothes in cold water. With today's cold temperature detergents, most
modern clothing cleans just as well in cold water. Wash in cold water
on economy cycles and always have a full load. Also, 15 minutes of presoaking
and 5 minutes of agitation get clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of agitation.
Heat water to the right temperature. The recommended temperature is
120°F. However, some dishwashers require the temperature to be slightly
higher. Check with the manufacturer or consult your consumer manual
for your specific model. Caution: Turn
the power off at the circuit breaker before changing the temperature
on a water heater.
Repair leaks at once. A hot water leak of only 60 drops per minute will
waste 192 gallons of water and approximately 50 kWh of electricity each
month
Use cold water whenever possible-- always with the garbage disposal
and when needed to prepare foods.
Insulate hot and cold water pipes. If pipes are exposed beneath your
home, insulate them with special pipe-insulating foam, or tape a standard
insulation blanket around them. This will help keep pipes from freezing
and keep hot pipes hot.
Take
a shower instead of a bath. The average bath uses twice as much hot
water as a 5-minute shower.
Insulate
older water heaters. Adding an R-11 insulation blanket to your water
heater will help conserve electricity. It's easy to install and inexpensive.
(This is not necessary with the new, energy efficient models.)
Plug or tighten any leaking joints in water pipes.
Turn
faucets off immediately after use. You can save thousands of gallons
of water a year, not to mention the energy needed to heat it.
Sediment
buildup in the hot water tank reduces electric water heating efficiency.
Flush sediment out once or twice a year by drawing several buckets of
water from the bottom tank drain valve. Follow manufacturer's instructions.
Turn
your water heater off at the circuit breaker when you go on vacation.
If you plan to be away for more than five days, turn your water heater
off. Make a note to remind yourself to turn it back on when you return.